Fernando Valenzuela

  • 6 × All-Star selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 )
  • World Series Champion ( 1981)
  • Gold Glove Award winner (1986 )
  • 2 × Silver Slugger Award winner (1981, 1983)
  • 1981 NL Cy Young Award
  • 1981 NL Rookie of the Year
  • 1981 NL TSN Pitcher of the Year
  • Threw a no-hitter in 1990

Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea ( born 1 November 1960) is a former pitcher from Mexico, who played during his Major League career in six different teams, longest with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1980 to 1990. In 1981, Valenzuela became the only player in the history of major League, who won the Rookie of the Year award, the Cy Young Award, the Silver Slugger Award and the World Series in 1981 in a season.

Childhood and youth

Valenzuela was born as the youngest of twelve children in Etchohuaquila, a small town in the municipality of Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico.

Career as a player

1978 baegann the then 17 -year-old Fernando Valenzuela his professional baseball career in Guanajuato Tuzos in the Mexican Pacific League with a 5-6 record and an ERA of 2.23. In subsequent years, the Mexican Central League was transferred to the current Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. Thus, Valenzuela pitched in the Minor League. The Leones de Yucatán, he achieved a 10-12 record with an ERA of 2.49 and 141 strikeouts this season. Valenzuela was observed by some Major League teams and was eventually bought by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 6, 1979 to $ 120,000.

Los Angeles Dodgers

After Fernando Valenzuela in 1979 moved to the Dodgers, he played in the minor league A-Team Lodi Dodgers (now the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes ) in the California League, where he was employed but only partly (1-2 with an ERA of 1.13). In 1980 he went to the San Antonio Missions on at Double -A. He led the Texas League with 162 strikeouts.

In September 1980 he was appointed to the squad of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

" Fernando Mania "

Through his performances in the 1981 season Velenzuela was traded as a top rookie. He started the season 8-0 with an ERA of just 0:50. He was known for his unconventional, eye-catching throwing technique.

Especially with the Latinos of Los Angeles, he became a media success, which coined the term " Fernando Mania " ( " Fernando Mania ").

After the players ' strike in the same year, in the 713 games were canceled, he neendete the season with a 13-7 record and an ERA of 2.48. He led all pitchers in the statistics shutouts ( 8), innings pitched ( 192.1 ) and strikeouts (180). He became the only player to have won the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the same year. In addition, was a reliable hitter, who the Silver Slugger Award won with an average of .250. In the World Series in 1981, he helped with a 3-1 balance the Dodgers for the first victory of the World Series since 1965.

Thanks to his offensive abilities Velenzuela played at least twice as outfielder or first base is. Especially in long games where he did not have to throw

Nicknamed " El Toro "

Following his outstanding debut was followed by several years in which Valenzuela, who by the fans "El Toro" ( Engl.: the bull ) was named as one of the best pitchers of the league was known. One of its most successful years, the 1986 season, which he completed with 21-11 and an ERA of 3.14. For another Cy Young Award he lost the vote narrowly against the Houston Astros pitcher Mike Scott.

In the All-Star Game in 1986 he scored five strikeouts in a row. So he hired in 1934 established by Carl Hubbell record.

From 1987, his performances dropped off, he finished the season with a 14-14 record and an ERA of 3.98. In 1988, he won only five games and missed most of the season. His last great performance he showed in 1990 when the game against the St. Louis Cardinals, in which he threw a 6-0 no-hitter.

At the beginning of his career, Valenzuela had to communicate problems with his catchers because he mastered only bad English. The Catcher Mike Scioscia, who came as a rookie in the team, then learned Spanish and became so personal to Valenzuela catcher before he finally became a regular player.

Career after the Dodgers

After failing to convince in Spring Training 1991, Valenzuela was released by the Dodgers. A comeback attempt with the California Angels failed. Although he signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers in the spring of 1992, but never played for the team, after which his contract of Jalisco, an association of the Mexican League, was bought. There he played for some time before he started another comeback attempt in 1993 with the Baltimore Orioles.

It was followed by another good season at the 1996 San Diego Padres, with a 13-8 and an ERA of 3.62. A year later he joined, with the St. Louis Cardinals playing back. He finished his career with a final score of 173-153 and an ERA of 3.54.

A Service of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999 to a renewed comeback he refused.

On June 29, 2004, he announced his return to the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico with then 44 years. He played in this league until 2005.

Valenzuela as a hitter

Valenzuela was unusual for a pitcher than hitter known. He had in 1990 when he finished this with an average of .304 with five doubles and 11 RBIs in 69 at- bats his best season as a hitter. Throughout his career he has reached an average of .200 with 10 homers, 26 doubles and 84 RBI in 936 at- bats. He won the Silver Slugger Award in 1981 and 1983.

September 15 July 14 Major League Baseball All-Star Game 1981 World Series Earned Run Average Minor League Baseball Latino (demonym) Home Run
331768
de